Gor´loïs

(3 syl. ), said by some to be the father of King Arthur. He was lord of Tintag´il Castle, in Cornwall; his wife was Igrayne (3 syl. ) or Igerna, and one of his daughters (Bell i cent) was, according to some authorities, the wife of Lot, king of Orkney. ⁂ Gorloïs was not the father of Arthur, although his wife (Igrayne or Igerna) was his mother. Then all the kings asked Merlin, “For what cause is that beardle boy Arthur made king?” “Sirs,” said Merlin, “because he is King Uther’s son, born in wedlock... More than three hours after the death of Gorlois, did the king wed the fair Igrayne.”—Malory, History of Prince Arthur , i. 2, 6 (1470). [ Uther ] was sorry for the death of Gorlois, but rejoiced that Igerna was now at liberty to marry again... they continued to live together with much affection, and had a son and daughter, whose names were Arthur and Anne.—Geoffrey, British History , iii. 20 (1142). ⁂ It is quite impo ible to reconcile the contradictory accounts of Arthur’s sister and Lot’s wife. Tennyson says Bell i cent, but the tales compiled by Sir T. Malory all give Margawse. Thus in La Mort d’Arthur , i. 2, we read: “King Lot of Lothan and of Orkeney wedded Margawse [ Arthur’s sister ]” (pt. i. 36), “whose sons were Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth;” but Tennyson says Gareth was “the last tall son of Lot and Bell i cent.”